Daily Republican., 1887-01-28
WHAT WAS lT?
BN SADIE L. PICKARD.

built between Portland and Boston,
this tavern was the last stopping place
for the mail and accommodation stages
after theil long and tedious drive from
Boston.
1t was q large, square, weather
beaten house, with numerous out
buildings. 1t stood back from the
road, with q wide, grassy space in
frOEt, and broad driveway, where the !,
stages, "gay In red and yellow paint
and spirited four in hand, 'loaded with !
passengers and heavy baggage, used to
go rolling up TO its door, rattling and
rocking like ship ashore.
On the opposite side OF the road was
long stretch of woods almost un
broken by clearings, until, nearing
Duustan's Corner, the talt marshes
commenced, extending q long, wide
level, almost to the ocean.
Scarboro is famous for Its marshes.
The Indian name was "Owascoag," or
..place OF much grass" TO which these
extensive marshes fairly entitle 1t.
The ocean, with its magnificent
beach,, "hardly excelled by any other
other in the country" was lonely,
quiet enough place at this time, great
contrast to the life, gayety and crowds
that throng It's shores now. Then its
shores. covered with pine trees, through
which the wind, soughing gloomily,
mingled its notes with the rising and
| falling voices OF the sea, was DESC
late, sand swept place.
Now they are lined with summer
homes. spine Point" long sweep
of prettily -verandaed, gayly painted
cottages, "Old Orchard" village of
hotels, great and small. with electric
lights and streets lined with summer
residences, pretty parks and camp
ground, stylish turnouts and thousands
Of visitors. bay View" if not 80
gay as its sister, Old Orchard. is GET
tsinly more retired and exclusive. with
handsome cottages and fine hotel; and
still further on, Ferry Beach, and
the grand drive of ten miles on the
hard, level, white sanded beach from
"Black Point to the Saco river.
But the roar OF the ocean, heard al
the old tavern, gave never Il hint o
the life, pleasure and wealth its shore.
were TO see.
There was a great deal of teaming
and hauling done ON the old post road
oxen being used largely instead o
horses. A young man had been EN-
ployed hauling wood from Saco, d
town adjacent to Scarbors. to Port
land Suddenly he gave up the place
lie would give no reason tor o doing
and an offer of higher wages was NJ
; inducement for him to continue the
job.
Another young man, an acquaint
ance of his. was finally engaged tt
! take his place, and the following even
. ing. for they started about dusk, 80 a
10 get into Portland early in the morn
:, ing, he started off with his load
!; His brother, little fellow, som
!. twelve or thirteen years old, begge,
t to 20 with him, and partly TO gratif
the boy, and partly for his company
Y for it was long, lonely drive If on
q did not fall in with other teams, h
r consented TO his going.
t 1t was lovely fall evening, flu
: moon and clear, unclouded say. Fo
7, the first few hours the boy chatte
i. away merrily, wakeful, and please
/. with the novelty OF his trip; some
times walking beside the team wit
n his brother, and then, pcrched on tn
. load riding q while. But at last hi
!. questions became few and far betwee
and the young man, finding he Wa
Z inclined to take nap, tied him st
, curely on the load, fearing he migl
tumble off, and he was soon ia
= asleep.
1t was now nearly twelve o'clocl
!, Past the marsh and on thorough tn
long, dark wood, they were nearin
the old tavern. Slowly the lumber
ing oxen plodded along, the youn
t. man walking by their side.
AS they passed the tavern he locke
I. up TO it 1t had not been occupied ft
l. the past year, and all was quiet an
', hushed. No sound but the chirp {
insects, the soft rustic of leaves an
) the roar of the ocean, broke the still
,, ness The old tavern looked as though
lulled by the familiar sounds, it la
fallen sleep in the moonlight.
"a At the left of the house, much neart
4. the road, about fifteen feet from i
stood an old blacksmith shop, and Ii
e young man glanced at this as the
or went slowly by. They had just passe
this shop when suddenly the oxe
q stopped, and with low moan, al
m frightened, staring eyes, turned the
. heads and looked back toward
ID trembling and shivering AS though
sS great fear. The young man turned
= see, if possible, what had startled the
x SO, and there saw what he won
!" never forget to the last day OF his iif
Il Standing directly in front OF tt
GO shop, in the ear moonlight, not
= shadow near him, stood the figure of
= man, apparently about medium heigh
IT entirely clothed in white, the arm
~ hang ng at his side, and-headless.
Il The teamster was a brave young fe
low, with nerves like iron, muscles
= steel, cool, clear-headed, ard not
drop of cowsrdly blood ran in
II veins; but that awful presence, re
y, and yet unreal, that something motto
Sc. less, turned toward him, sent CO
sst. chill to his very heart. He could n
move; il seemed to chain him to Il
10 spot; and with senses strained, quic
q. "a encd to their uttermost, he looked at
- noticing even the fingers, that, han
ing loosely apart, looked as thoul
carved in marble.
nd A noise on the load convinced hi
n, that his brother must have been ava
a. ened. Without moving his eyes fro
= the figure he said;
+; John, do you see that9"
=, "Ies, | see it," came the answer
n, low, frightened voice from the DO
L uLn i,1xu tlnrnnnhlu amnEn Ia